MUSEUM STUDIES RESOURCES //
REFERENCE MATERIALS
The first place to look when beginning research on a topic is in reference material: specialized dictionaries, encyclopedias or handbooks. These allow you to check names, dates and places, find additional information, look up unknown terms, and check for the proper spelling of words. They are particularly helpful for finding basic background information on a topic, and are often the only place many students may need to look to find answers to their questions. They may include bibliographies (lists of additional materials on a topic, usually considered by the author to be the best materials on that topic) that you can use to find other materials.All quoted material in the annotations is from American Reference Books Annual (ARBA) series, Greenfield REFERENCE Z 1035.1 .A55, unless otherwise stated.
Bibliographies
- Shapiro, Michael Staven, ed.The Museum: A Reference Guide. NY: Greenwood Press, 1990.
Greenfield REF Z5052 .M93 1990 - "This is not a volume to put on the bibliography shelf and forget. In fact, its title disguises an excellent source on museums, their operations, and their history. ... [It is] a much-needed compendium of critical essays and bibliographical resources on aspects of the museum profession. Each of the 11 chapters treats a type of museum ... , or professional issue ... . Within each 25- to 30-page chapter, the author gives a short but substantial overview, a critical discussion of sources in essay form, and a useful bibliography. Appendixes include a list of museum directories, museum archives and special collections, and museum-related periodicals. The format of this books seems ideal as a text for the graduate student as well as for the intelligent lay reader who needs a serious overview of the museum world in all its complexity." ARBA 1991, volume 22, p. 26.
- Woodhead, Peter and Geoffrey Stansfield. Keyguide to Information Sources in Museum Studies. London; New York: Mansell, 1994.
Greenfield REF AM5 .W66 1994 See also first edition, 1989. - "This book succeeds in fulfilling an ambitious goal: to document the literature, reference tools, and organizations that offer information about the study of museums. Woodhead, a reference librarian, and Stansfield, an expert in museum studies, ahve combined their knowledge to produce a comprehensive and well-organized book. Part 1 functions as a handbook of the entire field of museology, discussing its development, methods of disseminating information, and literature. Part 2 is a bibliography arranged by topic. Although the book is international in scope, most of the works listed are in English [many are British]. ...". ARBA 1991, p. 27.
- American Association of Museums. The Official Museum Directory. New Providence, NJ: R. R. Bowker. Annual.
Greenfield REF AM10 .A2 O4 2018 - Lists more than 5,000 North American institutions. Arranged by state/province, provides name, address, phone/fax numbers, key personnel, collections, research fields, facilities, activities, publications, hours and admission prices, attendance, and membership. Also includes much information on the American Association of Museums, state arts and humanities councils, federal agencies providing museum support, international museum organizations and associations, and more. Also includes "Products and Services Suppliers" section.
- Truesdell, Bill. Directory of Unique Museums. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1985.
Greenfield REF AM11 .T78 1985
Other- Historical Dictionary of World's Fairs and Expositions, 1851-1988. John E. Findling and Kimberly D. Pelle, eds. Greenwood Press, 1990.
Greenfield REF T395 .H57 1990 - Historical Dictionary of World's Fairs and Expositions, 1851-1988. John E. Findling and Kimberly D. Pelle, eds. Greenwood Press, 1990.
- "The outgrowth of a history seminar given in 1982, this fascinating dictionary fills a gap in both the history and sociology of world's fairs. The 95 chronologically arranged essays each treat a fair, an exhibition, or an exposition... Basic statistical information and significant (and occasionally amusing) features are included. Each essay is capped by a brief descriptive bibliography." ARBA, 1991, volume 22, p. 540.
Searching the Catalog by Subject
Use the University Libraries online catalog to find books, videos, CDs, scores, journal titles, etc. Use the following subject headings in the online catalog. Be careful to follow the exact spelling and form. These subject headings are standard and are used in most libraries.If you just want to browse, many museum studies books can be found in the call number area AM 1 - AM 151. Some, however, will be in the Ns, which is a large area. We recommend using the catalog to find all materials.
EXHIBITIONS
EXHIBITIONS--EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES--PERIODICALS
EXHIBITIONS--HANDBOOKS, MANUALS, ETC.
EXHIBITIONS--HISTORY
TRAVELING EXHIBITIONS
FAIRS
MUSEUM ATTENDANCE
MUSEUM BUILDINGS
MUSEUM CURATORS
MUSEUM FINANCE
MUSEUM LABELS
MUSEUM TECHNIQUES
MUSEUM TECHNIQUES--PERIODICALS
MUSEUMS
MUSEUMS AND SCHOOLS
MUSEUMS AND THE HANDICAPPED
MUSEUMS--DESIGNS AND PLANS
MUSEUMS--DIRECTORIES
MUSEUMS--EDUCATIONAL ASPECTS
MUSEUMS--EVALUATION
MUSEUMS--HISTORY
MUSEUMS--MANAGEMENT
MUSEUMS--PERIODICALS
MUSEUMS--PHILOSOPHY
MUSEUMS--PLANNING
MUSEUMS--PUBLIC RELATIONS
See also types of museums:
ANTHROPOLOGICAL MUSEUMS AND COLLECTIONS
ART MUSEUMS
CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS
HISTORICAL MUSEUMS
INDUSTRIAL MUSEUMS
OPEN-AIR MUSEUMS
SCIENCE MUSEUMS
Periodical Indexes: Finding Articles
Periodical indexes are research tools that allow you to search for articles in magazines, journals and newspapers.
Go to the library's Article Databases and Indexes page for a list of the UArts Libraries' subscription databases. Not sure which one to try? Give us a call (215-717-6280) or contact Sara MacDonald, UArts Public Services Librarian.
I've found articles I want to read. Now what?
There are different ways to find an article once you retrieve a citation in the index:
- See if there is a link in the index you're using to a full-text article online and download it or e-mail it to yourself.
- Click the FindIt@UArts icon to see if our library holds the journal title. FindIt@UArts will also tell you if the full-text article is available in a different database.
- Use the interlibrary loan search tool, WorldCat, to request materials not owned by the UArts Libraries or to see what other libraries have the title you need.
Style Manuals: Citing Your Sources
When you find information on a topic, no matter what format it takes (book, journal, Web page), there are style guides to show you the correct way to give cite those sources in a paper.
MUSEUM SOURCES ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
Searching the Web can be overwhelming. If you are using the Internet for research you want to choose sites that meet the standards of accuracy, currency and authority.There are many, many museum-related sites and resources available on the Internet and World Wide Web. The few listed here should provide many links to other sites.
American Association of Museums
http://www.aam-us.org/
Association of College & Research Libraries: Museum Studies:
Online Resources for Students and Practitioners
https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/7835/7835
Art History Resources on the Web
http://witcombe.sbc.edu/ARTHLinks.html
Museum Computer Network
http://mcn.edu/
Visitor Studies Association
https://www.visitorstudies.org/
"SA is today’s premier professional organization focusing on all facets of the visitor experience in museums, zoos, nature centers, visitor centers, historic sites, parks and other informal learning settings. We’re committed to understanding and enhancing visitor experiences in informal learning settings through research, evaluation, and dialogue." Source: Visitor Studies Association - About